Bukayo Saka is back on the bench as Arsenal take on Everton in the Premier League.
The Gunners are making their final ever trip to Goodison Park for the lunchtime kick-off, but with one eye firmly on Tuesday night’s huge clash with Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
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Saka made his comeback from a serious hamstring injury in the midweek victory over Fulham, scoring the second goal in a 2-1 win.
But Mikel Arteta has opted against not risking him, along with a number of his first-team stars such as captain Martin Odegaard and midfielder Thomas Partey.
“He needs exposure, you know, and he's going to have exposure,” Arteta said of Saka. “He played 30 minutes [against Fulham].
“He felt really well. He scored a goal and he wants more. He's clear. In the last two days, he's demanding more and he wants more.”
Elsewhere, Arteta is managing an injury crisis in defence, with Gabriel ruled out for the season after suffering a hamstring problem against Fulham.
On Friday, the Arsenal boss confirmed that both Ben White and Jurrien Timber have “a chance” of being fit to face the Toffees, with the former starting and the latter on the bench.
Confirmed team news
Everton XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Patterson; Gueye, Iroegbunam; Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye; Beto
Subs: Virgínia, Keane, Young, Coleman, Alcaraz, Garner, McNeil, Chermiti, Broja
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Jorginho, Merino, Rice; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko, Partey, Odegaard, Gower, Saka, Martinelli
Injured: Gabriel, Calafiori, Tomiyasu, Havertz, Jesus
Time and date: 12:30pm BST on Saturday April 5, 2025
Venue: Goodison Park
How to watch: TNT Sports
